Method for sealing fluidtight containers,chiefly coffins constituted by the assembly of rigid sections



Aug. 25, 1970 F GAUCHARD 3,525,132

METHOD FOR SEALING FLUIDTIGHT CONTAINERS, CHIEFLY COFFINS CONSTITUTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF RIGID SECTIONS Filed D80. 22, 1967 WDODEN BOARD! 03 POLYMERIZAGLE' RESIN l/wiw m? imam/v0 6'0 UCHARD THE'BMOWEIOABLE FL 45176 FILM 0E MALLEABLE ME 74L STE/P United States Patent rm. (:1. A61g 17/00 US. Cl. 27-19 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container, chiefly a coffin, made of a plurality of rigid sections, say a body and a cover, wherein fluid tightness is obtained by a deformable lining of the inner surface of each section, the different linings extending outwardly together through the clearance between cooperating sections, so as to be welded along their edges within said clearance or slightly outside the latter. The fluid treatment of a corpse or the like object to be preserved within the container is obtained by a fluid-feeding connection welded within the packing formed by the superposed welded edges of the linings and extending outside the container, so that vacuum and treating fluid may be applied in succession inside the latter.

The French patent specification 1,296,641 filed on May 8, 1961 disclosed an embalming method according to which a corpse was laid inside a chamber subjected to vacuum prior to the introduction of an anti-putrefactive fluid. The reliability of such an embalming method and more generally of all preserving or treating methods resorting to specific atmospheres or media depends on the fluidtightness of the treating chamber. Numerous materials such as metals, plastics or compound materials are known, which are capable of withstanding the attack of the specific atmospheres or materials which may be used; however, in the case of a chamber constituted by rigid sections, it is a difficult matter to obtain a lasting fluidtightness between such sections. Numerous types of joints have been suggested, but they are generally intricate and unaesthetic. Furthermore, it is essential to provide the rigid sections with at least one fluidfeeding connection leading to the arrangement adapted to subject the chamber to vacuum and to fill it, the closing of such a connection forming a difficult problem while its appearance is unsightly.

My invention has for its object to cut out these drawbacks and to provide coffins and the like fluidtight containers constituted by rigid sections with a fluidtight packing which it is an easy matter to close after the chamber inside the container has been filled with the desired fluid, the sections being thereafter assembled by conventional mechanical means which are not fluidtight.

According to my improved method, the inner surface of each rigid section is first provided along an uninterrupted area extending adjacent the contacting area between cooperating sections, with a continuous deformable strip of a weldable material, which strip is fluidtightly secured by gluing or rolling to the surface of the corresponding section after which the cooperating sections are superposed with a clearance between them, the two continuous deformable strips are drawn outside the container chamber through said clearance and are welded together along their edges, following which the two welded strips are urged back towards the chamber in the container and the rigid sections are rigidly interconnected by mechanical means.

The execution of my improved method relies preferably but not exclusively on the use of yielding weldable plastic film strips; the nature of the plastics forming the film is selected as required by the nature of the treating fluids and chiefly of the anti-putrefactive fluids with which the film is to be in contact. Nowadays, films made of plastics are known which show an inperviousness and a chemical resistance which are suflicient for said films to be used in the presence of such fluids. It is also possible, chiefly in the case of containers made of metal, to resort to strips made of malleable metal, chiefly lead, but their working is generally a more difllcult matter.

The strips may be rigidly secured to the inner surfaces of the stiff container walls through any means ensuring a suitable interconnection and fluidtightness. By way of example, the edge of the strip may be glued, welded or held fast by any suitable clamping means. In the case of coflins made of a resin adapted to be polymerized and provided with internal reinforcements or otherwise, it is possible to embed the edges of the strips inside the innermost layer of resin.

According to a further feature of my invention, the coupling or couplings, connecting the container with the means subjecting it to vacuum and introducing anti-putrefactive or the like fluids into it are fitted on one of the fluidtight strips or else are inserted during welding inside the weld between the two associated strip edges. Since the coupling or connection thus inserted is no longer apparent to View, once the container has been closed, it may be constituted by a mere tube of a thermo-weldable plastic material which is crushed and closed by welding after use.

My invention also covers a fluidtight container and chiefly coflins closed in accordance with my improved method and provided, along an uninterrupted line drawn within the connecting line between two adjacent sections with a continuous deformable strip of a weldable material.

I will now describe, by way of example, an embodi merit of my improved method as applied for the closing of a fluidtight coflin, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view, partly sectional, of a coflin adapted to be closed by the method according to my invention.

The coffin illustrated includes in the usual manner a chest body constituted by a shaped bottom board 1 and boards 2 forming the sidewalls. Over the upper edges of the chest there is fitted a cover 3 held fast by screws 4.

According to my invention, the fluidtightness of the coflin is obtained by rolling over the inner surfaces of the different sections of the container films 5 of a thermoplastic material the edges of which films extend freely beyond the edges of the corresponding sections, following which the boards of the chest are assembled and the free adjacent edges of the films 5 on the cooperating sections are welded together, the excess portions of the films being cut off whereby fluidtight welds 6 are obtained along the inner corners of the chest.

When closing the chest after use, the upper free edges 8 of the films 5 are folded outwardly over the upper edges of the chest body and the outwardly projecting portions of said free edges are welded onto the free edge 9 of the corresponding film lining the chest cover so as to form a weld 10 outside the chest. To one of the free film edges 89 there is welded a connection 11 formed by a short tube of thermo-plastic material. Over this tube is fitted a nozzle connected with fluid-feeding means adapted to set the container under vacuum. After producing an at least partial vacuum inside the container chamber whereby the welded edges and connections are urged inwardly, the nozzle is connected with the supply of an anti-putrefactive fluid such as a suitable gas, say carbon dioxide,

formaldehyde vapors, osmium tetroxide or the like gasiform or liquid product having an anti-putrefactive action as disclosed in the above-mentioned prior French patent. In the case of the coflin executed in accordance with my invention, and, for instance, if only a slightly active antiputrefactive fluid is used, such as carbon dioxide, it is possible to execute a plurality of steps consisting each in subjecting to vacuum, and then filling with a fluid, whereby dilution of said fluid is prevented. It is also possible, if two connections such as 11 are provided of which one can dip down to the bottom of the chest, to execute a washing with an anti-putrefactive liquid, said washing being produced for instance by an immersion associated with the introduction during the draining of said liquid of an anti-putrefactive or neutral atmosphere. At the end of the treatment, a slightly reduced pressure in maintained inside the container, so that the packing formed by the film edges may remain in its drawn in condition, taking into account the reduction in volume obtained when positioning the cover. The connection 11 is then crushed and welded fluidtightly and the cover is set in position by a final securing through the agency of the screws 4. The connection 11 is shown in the drawing in its condition prior to crushing and welding.

My invention is also applicable to the case of coflins provided with safety valves for the outlet of gases, although such valves would then be theoretically unnecessary. In the case of coflins lined with lead, the lining should be bestowed with suflicient freedom for it to lie sulficiently inside the container with reference to the welded joint, so that said lining may be protected against risks of melting when the lead lining is being welded. My invention may also be executed in the case of cofiins made of metal or of plastics.

The embodiment of my improved method and of the cofiins obtained thereby as described and illustrated may readily be subjected to various modifications without widening the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method for fluidtightly closing coflins and the like containers made of rigid assembled sections consisting in lining the inner surface of each rigid section of the container along a continuous area extending adjacent the connecting area between cooperating sections with an uninterrupted deformable strip of a weldable material fluid tightly engaging said area of the corresponding rigid section, assembling said sections with a clearance therebetween, drawing outwardly through said clearance the edges of the uninterrupted deformable strips engaging said sections, welding said interengaging edges of said strips projecting outside the container, urging back said welded strip edges towards the inside of the container and mechanically interconnecting the rigid sections together.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the deformable strips are constituted by thermo-weldable plastic films.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the deformable strips are constituted by malleable metal strips.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which said sections are made of polymerized resin.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the cofiin comprises wooden boards forming the coffin body section and a cover board section.

6. In a method as claimed in claim 1, the step consisting in fitting on one outwardly projecting welded strip edge a connection with a supply of fluid.

7. In a method as claimed in claim 1, the step consisting in inserting between the outwardly projecting welded strip edges a connection with a supply of fluid.

8. In a method as claimed in claim 1, the steps consisting i-n fitting on the outwardly projecting welded strip edges a tube of plastic thermo-weldable material adapted to be connected with a supply of fluid, crushing and closing by Welding said connecting tube after use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,364 7/1929 Gilkey 27-19 X 2,544,168 3/1951 Lusby 2719 3,353,238 11/1967 Slelofi 27-19 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner 

